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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

In my first posting I neglected to mention the Bergen County Beis Medrash www.bcbm.org. While most of the Shiurim show up on Yutorah, not all do (e.g. Rabbi Asher Weiss). In addition I received an e-mail notice of my being added to an e-mail list of a particular organization for their list of new audios. I would appreciate it that if you think that I would benefit from such an addition, please e-mail me first and ask me rather than just adding me to such lists.

I was also asked about rating the Shiurim and summarizing some of the actual halachik results. I may decide to do this from time to time, but would appreciate feedback if you think this is worthwhile or counter productive.

IMHO, if you only listen to one audio Shiur in your entire life, this should be it. I can still remember listening to it for the first time and realizing that I was in the presence of an intellect that dwarfed my own (not really that much of a challenge, I suppose) and a master communicator.

Click here to read moreIf you go to this link will find a treasure trove of Rabbi Soloveitchik's shiurim uploaded by Rabbi Levy during his galut in the Vilna of Essex County. Apparently a local baal habayit purchased them and donated them to the local Shul where Rabbi Levy rescued them from possible oblivion.

This was a panel discussion held at Yeshiva University dealing with the allocation of an undergraduate’s time between the study of Torah, secular studies and (primarily) acts of chesed (e.g. Darfur). As a child of the 60’s (yesh omrim I never left vyesh omrim if you remember them you weren’t really "there") it does my heart good to see that there are at least some college students who still concern themselves with the rest of the world. I hope some day that they will have a panel discussion of how adults should allocate their time. Keep in mind that the study of economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources to unlimited demands, but as a minimum, IMHO, even when we can’t allocate much in the way of resources to cure non-local issues such as world hunger, we should at least feel the pain of the hungry.

An interesting discussion of the laws of ritual purity and the impact on the possibility of a Kohen becoming a medical student. Rabbi Sobolofsky presents some of the classic possible leniencies but it sounds like if he were asked, he would say, "better not".

Includes a discussion of the famous issue as to why the Rambam does not list both the viduy and tshuva as separate commandments. Number of possible answers including the famous distinction made by Rabbi Soloveitchik of the difference between the kiyum and maaseh.

Beginning of a discussion with regard to the laws of conversion. This Shiur is in easy Hebrew, and focuses on the difference between objective measures (e.g. how much matzah did you eat?) and subjective measures (e.g. did you accept commandments?).

Part of a continuing series on prayer, worthwhile listening for those of us who have a tendency to Daven through our Davening (a bitter gelechter). Here discusses yotzer or as relating to creation. Halachik and hashkafic issues throughout the series.

A continuation of his weekly Chumash class which is now up to the chapter of Noah. Interesting discussion how an individual who is not in dire straits reacts and acts while others are in dire straits (hint: Let them eat cake is not likely to be the correct answer). In addition, discussion of the Rashi stating that Noah was Mkatnei Emunah. A number of thoughts discussed including the difference between emotionally feeling that the flood was coming and intellectually knowing it, as well as perhaps not believing in himself.

Rabbi Weiss’s class is in Hebrew and are always interesting. His creativity is palpable, especially when he begins to speak about the Ratzon Hatorah and/or Libi Omer Li. Here a discussion of the commandment of Tzitzis from both Halachik and Hashakafic basis.

IIRC R’Soloveitchik once commented concerning the use of microphones on Shabbat that those who understood the halacha didn’t understand the physics and vice-versa. This Shiur discusses microphones and the halachik status of the sounds they make (e.g. answering amen, being yotzeh a bracha etc.) The physics discussion reminds me why I chose to major in math.

R’ Simon discusses the sources and halachik implications of the difference of opinion between Rabbeinu Tam and the Gra on "sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the years". Interesting insight on how there could be a difference of opinion on a fundamentally factual issue.

Discussion of the conditions for saying Shehechiyanu and hatov v’hameitiv. By implication raises one of my favorite questions: why and when did Chazal chose to use subjective personal measures and when were objective community standards appropriate?